1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. david hodge

FORT HOOD, Texas – With the transfer of the red and blue brigade standard from Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, 4th Infantry Division Commander, to Col. Jeff Martindale, the 1st Brigade Combat Team welcomed its newest commander, June 18, during a change of command ceremony here.

The 1st "Raider" BCT bid farewell to Col. Ted Martin after a 24-month tenure as brigade commander, including a recent 12-month deployment in Iraq. At his next assignment, Martin will become the Chief of Operations Group at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.

"I absolutely loved this job over the past two years," said Martin, who hails from Jacksonville Beach, Fla. "To the Soldiers on the field, I am so proud to be your former commander, and I salute you for all your hard work and sacrifices."

Hammond, the reviewing officer of the ceremony, said Martin knew three words while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; attack, attack, and attack.

"The casual observer may not understand that there is a war to be won," Hammond said to the Soldiers, families and veterans in attendance. "Martin and his brigade did their share of winning in southern Baghdad."

Martin said he is proud of his Soldiers, who volunteered to serve their nation, during what he believed to be the most decisive point of the war in Iraq.

"And you prevailed," said Martin, to the commanders and Soldiers of the brigade's six battalions spread across Cameron Field.

During the ceremony, Hammond said "thank you" to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Salute Battery and the 328th Medical Command Army Band from Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, and welcomed Martindale and his wife, Mary, and their two children to the 4th Inf. Div. Family.

"The army selected the best Soldier to lead the 1st Brigade Combat Team," explained Hammond, who hails from Hattiesburg, Miss. "He will take this combat team to a whole new level."

The Soldiers and leaders of the storied 1st BCT will train and fight to win whether their next mission lies in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other locale, stated Martindale, who calls Sonoma, Calif., his home.

"It's a tremendous honor for me to command the Raider Brigade, whose ethos has always centered upon doing what it takes to win the nation's battles," explained Martindale, who recently completed the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

During the days leading up to the Raider BCT Change of Command Ceremony each battalion held individual ceremonies: the 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment said farewell to Lt. Col. Doug Kirby and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Williams, June 5, and hailed Lt. Col. Craig Berryman and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Crandall; and the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment said goodbye to Col. Troy Smith and welcomed Lt. Col. Charles Mitchell.

On June16, the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment said goodbye to Lt. Col. Scott McKean and Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Mitchell, and hailed Lt. Col. Rodger Lemons and Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Gray, and the 4th Support Battalion said farewell to Lt. Col. Darren Werner and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronny Martinez and welcomed Lt. Col. Gregory Applegate and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Taddle.

The next day, June 17, the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment said farewell to Lt. Col. Matt Elledge and welcomed Lt. Col. Clay Padgett; and the 1st Special Troops Battalion said goodbye to Lt. Col. Dave Hill and Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Seaman and hailed Lt. Col. Christopher Beck and Command Sgt Maj. Dennis Scott.

Hammond praised the accomplishments of Martin and charged Martindale and Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald Kinloch to move the Raider BCT to Fort Carson, Colo., and begin preparing the Soldiers for the unit's next mission.

"They are the nation's credentials," Hammond stated.

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